Several times, injuries in children’s bones can be worrying for parents. This is due to the risk of the growth plate being injured. The growth plate, also known as the physis, is a softer area of bone where growth happens, making it more vulnerable to injury. Fortunately, most growth plate injuries heal well with the right treatment and monitoring with the companion of an orthopaedic surgeon. Doctify connects families with trusted orthopaedic surgeons for expert care.
What Is the Growth Plate?
The growth plate or physis is a region made of cartilage near the ends of long bones (e.g., in the arms, legs and fingers) in children and teenagers. This cartilage hardens into solid bone once a person stops growing or becomes an adult, a process called “closing”. The role of the growth plate is to control how bones grow in length and shape. Since the growth plate is made up of cartilage and cartilage is weaker than bone, children and teenagers (not adults) are at risk of physeal injuries, which may disrupt normal bone growth.
How Do Growth Plate Injuries Happen?
Growth plate injuries may happen in several ways, but the most common are: falls, sports injuries, car or bicycle accidents, and repetitive bone stress. Some examples include ankle twists in football, wrist fractures from falls, also repetitive stress from sports like gymnastics, baseball pitching, or long-distance running can cause a growth plate fracture. Children and teenagers are at higher risk during growth spurts. Growth spurts happen primarily during infancy, with the most significant growth in the first year of life, and during puberty, typically in girls in the ages 8-14 and in boys in the ages 10-16.
Signs and Symptoms Parents Should Watch For
- Pain, swelling, warmth, and tenderness at the end of a bone, near a joint.
- Difficulty moving or putting pressure on the limb, or refusing to use it.
- Visible deformity (in severe cases).
It’s fundamental to check with an orthopaedic surgeon, even minor-looking injuries, should be checked to prevent long-term problems. A growth plate injury can lead to abnormal bone growth, resulting in a shorter or crooked limb, or it can cause a permanent growth arrest.
Diagnosis of Growth Plate Injuries
When a growth plate injury is suspected a visit with an orthopaedic surgeon should be scheduled. An orthopaedic assessment will be very important to determine severity and risk to future bone growth. The orthopaedic surgeon will send you some diagnosis exams in order to determine whether there is a growth plate injury or not. The X-rays are the standard tool to detect physeal fractures. But, sometimes MRI or ultrasound can be used for subtle injuries not visible on X-ray.
Treatment Options
- Closed Reduction: gently repositioning bones without an incision by an orthopaedic surgeon.
- Casting or Splinting: methods to immobilize and protect injured bones and joints, used for stable fractures that can heal without surgery.
- Surgical Fixation: using wires, plates, or screws for more severe injuries by an orthopaedic surgeon.
The treatment will depend on the results from the diagnosis exams and orthopaedic surgeon evaluation. Afterwards, it’s very important to follow-up care with orthopaedic surgeons to check proper healing and growth.
Long-Term Monitoring
Long-term monitoring is fundamental since growth plate injuries can sometimes affect bone growth, leading to limb length differences or angulation. Luckily, regular check-ups and X-rays help spot these early. Most children recover fully with proper treatment and monitoring.
When to See a Specialist
If after an injury near a joint the child has pain, swelling, tenderness, and warmth, or if deformity or limited movement is present, visit an orthopaedic surgeon. The role of orthopaedic surgeons is providing both immediate and long-term care. At Doctify you will find trusted paediatric orthopaedic specialists for your children.
Conclusion
Nowadays, growth plate injuries are common in children and teenagers, but they are often treatable. A growth plate injury can lead to abnormal bone growth, causing a shorter or crooked limb, or a permanent growth arrest. Fortunately, with proper diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, most children and teenagers regain full function without long-term problems with the companion of an orthopaedic surgeon. Parents, whenever you have a doubt regarding a growth plate injury in your child after a fall, accident, or repetitive bone stress, seek prompt medical attention and use Doctify to find the expert care.
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Medically Reviewed
Last reviewed on 06/09/2025
